Grinding mill



April 30, 19.29.

D. COLE GRINDING MILL I Filed July 27, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 anomlio'a 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ap 30, 1929. D. COLE I GRINDING MILL Filed July 27, 1928 DO/wick (3.0430 41 add Hum M30, 1929. COLE GRINDING MILL Filed uly 27, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Apr. 30, 1929.

UNITED. STATES DAVID corn, or an Peso, TEXAS.

GRINDING MILn.

Application filed July 27,

This invention relates to grinding mills of the ball 0r rod type, and is designed par ticularly as an improvement onthe structure disclosed and claimed in the patent to Cole and Bergman, No. 1,479,172, dated January The structure of the prior patent is characterized by the use of one or more riding rings supported on a plurality of rollers mounted on the pivot-pins of a chain structure suspended in arcuate form from its ends. One of the important characteristics of this structure is a stabilizing means which, without limiting the equalizing action of the chain, nevertheless restrains such motion toward the drum in a manner which has been found peculiarly .eifective to prevent rocking or cyclic oscillation of the drum in a direction transverse to its axis.

The present invention resides in structural details connected with the construction and mounting of the chain,.by which the number of parts is greatly reduced and by which the drum is. confined through its engagement with rollers mounted at the terminals of the pendant chain loop. I In its simplest form, which is shown in the drawings, the drum is supported on two rollers supported between the ends of the chain structure, and is laterallyconfined by two rollers at the ends of the chain structure. These terminal rollers are so supported that the pull of; the chain under load draws the confining rollers toward the riding ring of the drum. Adj ustable limiting means are provided to control the motion-of the, terminal rollers toward the riding ring without restricting the outward motion. Thus the terminal or confining rollers do not positively limit the lateral movement of the drum but resist it, the follow-up motion of each roller being limited. In this way either roller is free to yield to impact andacts to absorb the-energy of the impact without being free to exaggerate the rebound and thus tend to cause the drum to oscillate transversely. I

Another feature of the invention is the mounting of the adjustable supports for the chain ends on a universal hinge so that they are self-alining. I v I v Still another feature is the arrangement of the parts so that both 'endsof thefchainmay be adjusted in the same directionand in the same, or different degrees. This permits the asis or-the .drnm'to be aimed with the 1928, Serial No. 295,752.

of the drive pinion, and to be adjusted toward and; from the axis of the pinion to secure proper meshing of the pinion with the ring gear.

The preferred embodiment of theiinven tion is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1' is a side elevation of a grinding mill embodying the invention, portions of the grinding drum being broken away to reduce the length of the figure;

. Fig. 2 is an end elevation looking to the left relatively to Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 .is a perspective view of the adjust- I able support for one end of one chain;

Fig. 4 is an elevatlon thereof.

In the structure chosen for illustration 7 present drawings, the mechanism is, supported on, suitable foundations which may be of concrete, the supports for the bearing structure forthe drum being illustrated at 6 while the supports; forthe driving pinion shaft are illustrated at 7-. Mounted on the supports 6 are hollowcastingsfd, said castings, viewed from the end of the drum, be-

ing formed with anarcuate depressionproducing at each end an upward vprojection or.

9 having a projectinglug. 11. Mounted in horn which terminates in a supporting plate the upper face of each plate 9 are two hemi---' spherical bosses 12 which serve as fulcra for adjusting yokes indicated generally by the reference numeral 13. There are two such yok'es on each horn, 'andeach yoke includes a hub portion 14, an arm l5,'and a stiffening web connecting the two. The

lower face of the arm 15' at one end is recessed to fit upon the boss 12, and the. other end is drilled to receive a bolt16 which,

serves as. a limit stop andv is adjustable by *meansof a castellatednut 17 which, when.

adjusted, is

in the hubs 1d at its ends, and which is locked in said hubs by means of the set screws 19. The pivot-pin 18 carries a roller 21 which is a confining roller, and which is supported on said pin by means of anti-friction bearings of any suitable type (not shown). Also pivoted on the pin 18 are two links 22, one at either side of roller 21. These links are the terminal links of a chain structure pendant between the pins 18 on opposite horns of a single casting 8, and including in addition to links 22 the spacing links 23. The links 23 are pinned to the links 22 by journal pins 2% of ordinary form. These pins carry journaled upon them between the two links 23 a pair of supporting rollers 25, preferably larger in diameter than rollers 21 but like these rollers supported on anti-friction bearings.

Supported on the rollers 25 and laterally confined by the rollers 21 is a corresponding riding ring 26, there being one riding ring 26 on the inlet neck 27 and another riding ring 26 on the discharge neck 28. These necks 27 and 28 are shown as smaller in diameter than the body 29 of the drum but might be made of the same diameter; or to state the matter differently, the riding rings 26 might surround the body 29 of the drum. Both arrangements are well-known in the art. The structure of the drum need not depart from standard practice, and as'shown the drum consists of a plurality of sections connected by bolts passing through the mating flanges 31, 82. An encircling ring gear 33 is removably bolted to one of the flanges, preferably the middle flange, as is indicated at 34 in Fig. 2. The construction of the drum and the gear are not features of the present invention. Mounted on the supports 7 in bearings 35is a pinion shaft 36 which is driven by any suitable means, and which carries a pinion 37 which meshes with the ring gear 38 to rotate the drum.

Referring now to a, fill-13 represents the center line of a. link 22, and Cl) represent-s the line of tirust between the hemispherical boss 12 and the axis of pin 18. The relation of the p s just mentioned is such that the pull of link 22 tends to rotate the yoke 13 on the boss '2 in such. direction as to carry the roller 21 toward the riding ring 26, the bolt 16 acting to limit this motion. By adjusting the nut 17 it becomes possible so to position the rollers 21 that they seat firmly on the riding ring 26 but are incapable of moving further. Thus while the riding ring might act against the tension in a link 22 to force one of the rollers 21 back, that is, away from the center of the drum, the other roller 21 could not follow up this motion. Consequently, while the guiding or confining rollers 21 are yieldingly mounted, they are incapable of setting up a transverse oscillatory motion of the drum.

The universal mounting afforded by the use of the hemispherical bosses 12 renders the yoke 13 self-aiming, and permits the two yokes at the end of one pin 18 to be adjusted independently of each other to aline the pin and consequently its carried roller, so that theroller bears fairly over the entire width of the riding ring.

The use of adjustable yokes 13 at both ends of the chain permits adjustable meshing of the gears by concurrent adjustment of the yol es. Where adjustable meshing of the gears is unnecessary r is secured by other means, only one end of the chain need have adjustable yokes. In such case as the only purpose to be accomplished by the adjustment is the proper contact between the riding rings and the rollers 21, this can be secured by an adjustment at one end only.

lt is necessary to provide some means to prevent the drum from oscillating longitudinally, that is, in the direction of its longitudinal axis. To accomplish this result economically and avoid troublesome adjustments, 1 provide on the interior of each casting 8 and opposite the middle of each link 23, a pocket whose semicircular form is indicated at on Fig. 2, with a port or sprue 39 leading to the outer face of the casting. After the chain structures are mounted and after the drum is at least approximately alined, bearing surfaces or bosses 11 of antifriction metal are poured. These bosses engage the links 23 at or about their midlength (see Fig. 1). In order to afford the proper degree of clearance, thin filler pieces of card-' board or the like may be insertedagainst the face of the link at the time of pouring the boss. This produces a very simple con fining guide which may be readily replaced when worn, or in the event that changed adjustment makes a differently dimensioned boss desirable.

For the sake of simplieity'only two supporting rollers 25 are shown in the drawings and this is the preferred construction, hut it is to be understood that the invention is not restricted in this regard. In cases where very heavy loads are to be carried it may be found advisable to use a larger number. As the drawings are illustrative and not intended to be limiting, I do not confine myself to the particular embodiment shown but contemplate modifications within the scope of appended claims.

I claim 1. Supporting and guiding means for the riding ring of a rotary drum comprising, in combination, a chain structure includingtwo spaced series of links with pivot pins commen to the two series and with rollers journaled on said pins and adapted to support and guide each riding ring; supports for the ends of the two link series those at at least one end of the chain structure including independently movable universallymounted members, whereby the members are rendered self-alining; and independent adjusting means for said members.

2. Supporting and guiding means for the riding ring of a rotary drum comprising, in combination, a chain structure including two spaced series of links with pivot pins common to the two series and with rollers journaled on said pins and adapted to support and guide the riding ring; supports for the ends of the two link series those at at least one end of the chain structure including independently movable universally mounted members having a point of support below the end pivot pin and so offset relatively thereto that tension in the chain structure draws the end roller toward the ring; and means tor ad usting said members. 3. Supporting and guiding means for the riding ring of a rotary drum comprising, in

combination, a chain structure including two spaced series of links with pivot pins common to the two series and with rollers journaled on said pins and adapted to support and guide the riding ring; supports for the ends of the two link series those at at least one end of the chain structure including independently movable universally mounted members having a point of support below the end pivot pin and so oilset relatively thereto that tension in the chain structure draws the end roller toward the ring; and adjustablemeans for limiting the motion of said members in a direction to carry the end roller toward the ring. i

4. Supporting and guiding means vfor the riding ring of a rotary drum comprising, in combination, a chain structure including two spaced series of links with pivot pins common to the two series and with rollers journaled on said pins and adapted to support and guide each riding ring; supports for the ends of the two link series those at both ends of the chain structure including independently movable universally mounted members, wherebythe members are rendered self-alining; and independent adjusting means for said members.

5. Supporting and guiding means for the riding ring of a-rotary drum comprising, in

combination, a chain structure including two pendently movable universally mounted members having a point of support below the end pivot pin and so oifset relatively thereto that tension in the chain structure draws the end roller toward the ring; and

means for adjusting said members.

6. Supporting and guiding means for the riding ring of a rotary drum comprising, in combination, a chain structure including two spaced series of links with pivot pins common to the two series and with rollers journaled on said pins and adapted to support and guide the riding ring; supports for the ends of the two link series those'at both ends of the chain structure including independently movable universally mounted members having apoint of support below the end pivot pin and so ofi'set relatively thereto that tension in the chain structure draws the end roller toward the'ring; and adjustable means for limiting the motion of said members in a direction to carry the end roller toward the ring. 1

7. The combination with a rotary drum structure including two spaced series of links with pivot pins common to the two series and with ring-engaging rollers j ournaled on port and the terminal roller of the chain toward the riding ring; and adjustable means individual to each such support for limiting such motion.

9. The combination with a riding ring and a supporting chain structure carrying rollers pivoted on thechain structure and,

engaging the ring, of means for adjusting the alinement of the end rollers on said chain relatively to the axis of the'drum.

10. Supporting and guiding means for the riding ring of a rotary drum comprising, in combination, a frame, two pivoted link structures with pivot pins common to the two and with rollers journaled on said pins and adapted to'engage and support the ring; and renewable confining guides of anti-friction metal cast into pockets in said frame and engaging certain links of said structure.

In testimony whereof I have name to this specification.

DAVID coLE.

signed my having two riding rings, of chain structures t'or supportlng sald riding rings, each chain 

